Psilology

One For The Dogs

2011-08-19T18:59:00.000-07:00

This pooch is truly amazing! A "dog on the go" for sure.

Wondering What Ever Happened to Michael Bolton?

2011-06-22T14:42:00.000-07:00

Happy Inside - Oh Those Crazy Ikea Cats

2011-03-22T18:56:00.000-07:00

Gotta love those cats!

Another Museum Day

2010-11-21T21:29:00.000-08:00

Today we visited the Redpath Museum of Natural History at McGill campus here in Montreal. It is quite a place to explore. Anyone with an appreciation for the wonders of nature would be right at home in this gem of a building.

This is just one of the great pieces to be seen. It is a Buddha from around the 12th century Japan and is of the Pure Land Buddhist tradition. Seated in the lotus position this fellow has reached enlightenment many centuries ago.

This piece here is actually a great example of origami or paper folding sculpture on a larger scale. He is a Pterodactyl hung from the cieling and this shot shows just a small sampling of the great architectural detail to be seen in the museum building itself.

Awesome! Amazing! Astounding!

2010-11-20T20:04:00.000-08:00

The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts!

YES, I really <3 this place. Double <3 in fact.

This is the view from above on the fourth floor. The architecture is this building is the perfect frame for all the fabulous works in the collections.

Here is a fabulous bust of Napolean on the 3rd floor with circular windows. Makes for an interesting composition with the window and buildings beyond. The setting sun shining in from the window on the left lights up the piece enough to give him a golden glow even Bonapart himself would be proud of!

This was at the Lantern Festival

2010-10-31T09:32:00.000-07:00

Blue was the theme colour this year and what a show! There were so many great lanterns there, it was quite an event. There was likely a record number of visitors I am sure.

This blue dragon had a twin opposite him. The Botanical Gardens in Montreal are fabulous to visit anytime but the fall lantern show is really not to be missed!

Official Welcome to Montreal

2010-10-31T08:44:00.001-07:00

Here it is, the official welcome to Montreal from Mother Nature herself. Thankfully this was delivered in the night when we were all tucked in our beds and today there is lots of sunshine so it likely will be gone very soon.

HAPPY HALLOWE'EN EVERYONE!!!!

This is Really Cool

2010-09-13T19:47:00.000-07:00

Daisy Dukes vs. Jorts

2010-07-15T10:21:00.001-07:00

Recently I have had to explain to my kids what "Daisy Dukes" are (thank you Katie Perry). Since I really could not find any words that would offer a(ahem) fitting description I had to resort to using a Google image search to find an appropriate example. Don't laugh, its harder than it sounds. Not your usual everyday "jorts".

So here is the original Daisy Duke a.k.a. Catherine Bach in her signature look. I learned a few things while researching this subject too. Did you know that Catherine was quite the seamstress and made most of her wardrobe on the original Dukes of Hazzard show? And did you also know that the network censors back in the day made her wear flesh toned stockings to avoid any wardrobe mishaps because her "Daisy Dukes" were sooo short. Who knew! Oh yes and THIS really takes me back! The original theme song by Wayon Jennings. Yeeehaw!

There's Something About Alice...

2010-02-12T00:01:00.001-08:00

I posted before on the upcoming movie, Through the Looking Glass that I really can't wait to see. It's been on my mind lately so I made a wonderland themed treasury. I like it. Check it out and see what you think.It expires Sunday so hurry!

Help for Haiti

2010-02-03T22:19:00.000-08:00

The earthquake in Haiti was devastating. I feel so sad when I see footage and stories about the monumental challenges faced by so many. Fortunately there are many ways to help;

Click to Help Haiti is a click-a-day site that generates donations from sponsors. 100% of the donations raised go directly to Oxfam America and help provide emergency water and sanitation services to earthquake survivors in Haiti.

GO and CLICK today!

Of course the generous Etsy community is offering help also. A search of Haiti relief generates so many shops with items listed to benefit various charitable organizations providing relief for the area. (Please take a moment read the fine print on what you are buying.)

Also on Etsy is a whole shop dedicated to helping Haiti. Hearts for Haiti offers a variety of merch that has all been donated from Etsy shops of all kinds. There really is something for everyone. From the shop announcement:

"...your purchase in this shop not only gets you a great Etsy item but it also helps alleviate the needs in Haiti through donations to DoctorsWithoutBorders (MédeçinsSansFrontières)."

The shop has raised over $25,000 to date! That is a big number for a great cause, so go on, GET SHOPPING!

It's Groundhog Day!!!

2010-02-02T23:06:00.000-08:00

Did he see his shadow? Pretty sure he didn't see his shadow in my neck of the woods but that doesn't necessarily mean much. I came up with this cute critter as a visual aid for y'all but I don't know, he kind of looks a bit like Sandy Squirrel from SpongeBob, don't you think?

Tweety Trends

2010-01-20T23:11:00.001-08:00

I have noticed a dramatic increase in sightings of feathered friends in general. Not actual birds mind you, seeing as it is the dead of winter here in Canada where I live. No, the flying critters I am talking about are of the online variety.

This is one of my favourite specimens from a very successful Etsy shop; Cheeky and chic at the same time.

It seems since Twitter has become all the rage little tweeters are popping up everywhere. Icons and patterns and even on home decor items, the more tweets there are the more chic chicks seem to show themselves. I don't mind it one bit as I think they are cute for the most part. Maybe this will take away the emphasis on the owl and cowl obsession that has previously been so popular, especially with the Etsy crowd.

So It's Blue Monday

2010-01-18T14:24:00.000-08:00

Well, at least according to this article at Treehugger.com it is anyways. Psychologist Cliff Arnall of Cardiff University developed a formula to come to this conclusion. I'm not so edumacated on all that mathematicianal type stuff so I will just have to take his word for it. Meh, it's Monday; makes sense, right?.......

At any rate I thought I would just post a little vid I saw over on the Shana Logic blog just incase anyone needs some cheering up on this potentially bluest of all Mondays.

ENJOY!!!

OH, those animals! Gives the term "Crazy like a Fox" new meaning doesn't it?

Decor8 Posts a West Elm GC Giveaway

2010-01-12T23:21:00.000-08:00

The lovely Decor8 blog has posted a giveaway you may be interested in. I am in Canada and so I can't enter but it looks like a good one; a gift card to West Elm.

Check it out and see for yourself.

I am also getting some details on the Blogging Your Way e-course that is going on over there. Looks like the current one (starting January 18th) is all sold out but I'll be keeping my eye out for any more sessions that might happen.

What to Do With a Flower Loom

2010-01-12T20:50:00.000-08:00

I have a few flower looms hanging around. Some are from vintage kits that I have come across, some just lonely looms. You might know them as the KnitWit or Crazy Daisies from way back. This is one of my creations that I made with vintage seam binding.

I am going to be adding some of these flowers to my Ella Cinders Vintage shop over on Etsy. You should check it out in the next week or so and see what's up.

This post was inspired by Elsie's post at A Beautiful Mess, which is a great read too!

A Special Keepsake for that Special Someone

2010-01-11T23:10:00.001-08:00

I think we all know someone that would be deserving of a little trinket like this. Available now in the shop.

The Snuggle Suit

2010-01-08T00:29:00.000-08:00

Or "What I Didn't get for Christmas"

So I am not actually that sad to post this fact. More of PSA here to let everyone know that this item is available. For what, I DON"T know but here you go. I guess someone out there will buy it. No doubt we will see them showing up very soon on People of Walmart in all the colours of the rainbow. Get out your rosecoloured glasses for that day....

OH LOOK!....It's on SALE!!!

Which colour is on your wish list for next year?

Thanks to StylePhile at Boston.com for putting me on to this gem.

Cats....They're Good Entertainment.

2009-12-06T22:56:00.001-08:00

2009-11-11T14:08:00.000-08:00

Rockin' & Rollin'...

2009-11-11T12:58:00.000-08:00

This just about made me spray my Evian out my nose.

Thoughts on Hallowe'en Costumes

2009-09-28T22:06:00.000-07:00

Well I know am early but I want to get a good start on my favourite holiday this year - Hallowe'en!

I am already gathering ideas and seeing what kind of costumes the kids want to go for. This site has some really great ideas for the DIYers out there. I am particularly digging this page with the Wonder Woman costumes. They look fun but I am not sure I can really pull off something so skimpy for a few reasons. (Mostly the chilly weather - I live in Canada after all but also, I'd have to hit the gym BIG time for the next four weeks to come even close to Wonder Woman standards!)

Instead of WW we as a family have decided to go as a trio of sorts; Inspired by the new Tim Burton film coming out next year we are going as characters from Through the Looking Glass. My daughter will be Alice of course and my son is going to be the Mad Hatter with just a little bit more convincing. I of course will be the Queen of Hearts. Muahahaha!

Some Things to Think About

2009-08-05T10:16:00.000-07:00

Well I have neglected this blog quite a bit lately. I will try to rectify that in the next few weeks.
I really have been busy. You may have noticed my shop was on vacation recently as I went to Montreal for a fabulous fun filled vacation. I'll post more about the sites and stuff that I did later.

In the meantime, I have started a new job that is interesting but has a few moments of downtime during the day. More about that later as well. To pass the time I found this fun game while researching the calorie count for Jelly Belly Jelly Beans. Try it out yourself. It is slightly addictive, just like the Jelly Belly beans themselves.

Happy Fourth!!!

2009-07-04T14:14:00.001-07:00

Happy Independence Day to any American readers out there! What a day to celebrate. To mark the occasion I have picked out an Etsy work that I feel says USA in the form of the good old Red, White & Blue theme. These adorable slippers are made by a Canadian whose work I have been admiring for a while. (Oh, the irony!) Hand Knit Hugs hails from the East coast, New Brunswick to be exact. What a great shop with plenty of great knit booties to choose from.

For more fabulous finds you can check out the July Fourth search on Etsy and do some of your own celebrating.

Happy Birthday Canada!

2009-07-01T08:48:00.001-07:00

I feel fortunate to live in such a wonderful country. Happy day to all my fellow "Canucks".

Canada Day Round Up - An Etsian Blog

2009-06-30T10:00:00.001-07:00

A fellow Etsian and blogger has posted a great round-up of red and whites to celebrate Canada Day! Rikrak studio keeps a great blog and she is very busy promoting Canadian on it so go have a look.

There is also a reference to the Trans Canada Etsy Team of which she is a member. There is a great giveaway that you can still get in on called the Trans Canada Virtual Tour. The tour features Etsy members across the country who are participating in the event and the giveaway has some awesome goodies in it!

Twenty shops from the trans canada etsy team are participating in this exciting event! just make a purchase from my shop, or other participating shops, and you will receive one ballot for every $10 you spend.

Use the promo code "Road Trip" when you buy and you'll get one extra ballot, too! All ballots will be entered into a prize draw for a fantastic goodie bag worth over $350, or a fabulous hand-woven rug worth $175, made by the wonderful fiveforty.etsy.com
This fabulous event runs until midnight july 1st (*canada day!*). the draw will take place on july 2nd.

For full details, please see the TransCanada team blog.

My Egg Cups got to the Front Page

2009-06-21T21:22:00.000-07:00

Things are getting very exciting on Etsy for the Ella Cinders shop. My tupperware eggcups made it to the front page! Thanks to CraftCult for keeping such great track of the what's and when's of Etsy for everyone. All you have to do is type in the username of a shop and they have all the info you need.

Surprises in Plain View

2009-06-18T09:47:00.000-07:00

Sometimes we can find the most interesting things to blog about right in front of our noses. Like today for instance, I checked my Project Wonderful adspace and saw something VERY interesting and worth a detailed look for sure.

Timothy Adams is hosting a fabulous photo contest!
Tim's blog is always full of great tidbits of info on how to promote and get the word out. This should be both fun and will get some more views for those "Etsy Worthy photos". It's the second one and the first one has some very impressive stats so get on over there and SUBMIT!!!

Bloggy Needs a New Pair of Shoes....

2009-06-17T12:02:00.000-07:00

So this sadly neglected blog is needing a bit of a makeover. Site maintenance is in effect so if it looks a bit messy around here, please bear with me. This should be fairly painless and I will post about how I did it in the next few days, assuming it all goes well.......(crossing fingers and toes now.)

Happiness:Tribute 21 Plate Challenge

2009-06-17T10:23:00.000-07:00

As I was ~~stalking~~ perusing Illustration Friday I found a link to a great contest for designers and illustrators to check into. You can see the details of the open call for submissions at the Design 21 site. This looks like an exciting opportunity to do some great work and help out the children of the world. Winning designers get $1,000 for the charity of their choice and a set of ten plates produced by Felissimo of Japan. You can see past entries on the Tribute 21 site (in Japanese, mouse over the faces of entrants to see their submissions.)

The Happiness theme is pretty open with the aim being to "communicate a wish, inspiration or message for children and future generations about happiness that's in harmony with our surroundings." Some really REALLY big names have been associated with this project in the past; Susan Sarandon, Sharon Stone, John Travolta, Todd Oldham, Christian Lacroix just to name a few.

The deadline is July 31st, 2009, so get to work everyone! My mind is already racing with some great ideas so get your pens out, the challenge is ON!

Relax and Enjoy! A Treasury

2009-05-24T11:24:00.000-07:00

Today I had a lovely convo in my Etsy inbox from seller KingsQueens. She was letting me know about the beautiful Treasury she had made that included my vintage cateye glasses. It's really a stunning combination and I would say even Front Page material. Check it out and see for yourself. Also check the KingsQueens shop which is also quite spectacular.

A Big Issue of Small

2009-05-22T17:06:00.001-07:00

My favourite on-line magazine is out for summer! Check it all out, it's a big one. Chock full of great small designer wares for the little peeps in your life! As usual it doesn't disappoint.

Also of note is that Small now has a blog for more up to the minute inspiration. What else would it be called but Smaller of course!

LOOK! Etsy Front Page! Woot! Woot!

2009-05-20T15:47:00.000-07:00

Many thanks to fellow Etsian Summersville for making a Treasury that got to Etsy's front page. Look down at the bottom, It's my vintage cateye glasses from my Ella Cinders shop. HOW FABULOUS is that? What a lovely front page if I do say so myself.

Big thanks to FluffyFlowers who let me know because I would never have had a clue. See the Flickr Front Page archive for more FP loveliness.

Treasury West - Rock Me Amadeus

2009-05-19T18:12:00.001-07:00

Here is a quick post of a Treasury West that I snagged last night. It was late but I think I did a good job picking things out despite my fatigue. Any opinions very welcome! Click quick to see it right here. Hope you like it!

Etsy Updates and Other News

2009-05-16T16:38:00.001-07:00

A Decanter available at Ye Olde Etsy Shoppe, Ella Cinders.

I have been adding to my Etsy vintage shop lately and it has been great. I have made more sales in this last week than ever. Things are starting to pick up. I have finally been working steady too and my current job has been great about giving me flexible hours. I still need to be there after school to pick up the littles and the employers have been great about that. Add in the nicer weather, flowers and a holiday weekend, all in all it's All Good!

Happy Day to All the Mommy Types!

2009-05-10T11:28:00.001-07:00

This is the gift that my beautiful daughter made for me. So special! She made it with her Brownie troupe and hand stitched the whole needle book herself! I am so proud of her beautiful work, looks like sewing might run in the family or something! Such a thoughtful piece and just what I needed too.

What a special day. I am so fortunate.

April Flowers

2009-04-30T10:12:00.000-07:00

What a lovely spring day. I am so thankful to have little moments of happiness and joy. My son took this picture today of the tulips in our yard. (And his little toes too!!) A pretty good shot. Maybe he is a budding photographer.

Feline Fashionistas

2009-04-09T10:06:00.001-07:00

If I could have a cat, my feline friend would definitely be a fashionista. In that vein, my cat would definitely have to have a selection of cool collars and wicked wigs to choose from. The best wigs for cats are found at Ktty Wigs. They even have a Flickr group dedicated to all the feline fashionistas around these internet parts.

AWESOME! Alas, my daughter is allergic so no kitties for us. :(

Blingy Treasury

2009-04-08T08:24:00.001-07:00

Here is a great treasury that will expire this evening. I wasn't going to post it but when I checked it this morning I was surprised at how many comments I had gotten on it. I think it is the combination of both a successful visual compilation and a great title. My last treasury title I had made up on the fly and it wasn't very intriguing at all. That one had only got maybe a half a dozen comments. This one is at 27 comments and counting and none of the commenters are the featured artists either. I guess there really is an art to a winning treasury. Check this one out here quick, before it expires! Let me know your thoughts on the process too, it's always great to hear how others do it too.

Spring Flowers

2009-03-31T08:32:00.000-07:00

I have bought some lovely little crochet flowers from a fellow Etsy seller. Aren't they fab? I will be making some bags and hats that these might embellish if I don't just use them as fresh little brooches. So cute! Check out My Little Palette to see lots more fun fresh items.

Treasury Time

2009-03-24T12:08:00.001-07:00

I made a treasury last night and here it is to share with you. It was a totally impromptu thing, hence the name. All I could think was "Oh, wow I won a treasury!" and I had nothing particular in mind when I put the items together so I can't say it's really a winner in my mind but I still had fun making it.

Check it out here before it expires in a few days. Hope you like it.

A Walk on the Beach

2009-03-22T15:00:00.001-07:00

Unplugged...

2009-03-03T13:06:00.001-08:00

Pampering Beki had a great idea that I am going to be participating in with my family. Unplugging the tech stuff around here is much needed now that the long winter is starting to taper off. The battle over the computer is starting to get a little out of hand so a day off will be a nive change of pace for us. We don't have cable so TV has never been a big issue for us but the computer - that is another story. Thursday is going to be our day to be "unplugged" and if that goes off without a hitch then maybe we can expand it to Sundays also. Only time will tell....Are YOU up for it?

Bushfire Relief Australia

2009-02-22T19:38:00.000-08:00

We were at Big White for the day and went down the gondola with a young man who was from the area hard hit by the bushfires in Australia. He said his family lost their home but they were very lucky because everyone was safe and things are now under control.

I could not believe what he went on to tell. So much devastation for so many in such a short time. He explain how the fires were so intense that there were mini tornadoes of fire storms picking up and moving around through the air, sometimes jumping up to 40 kilometres at a time. It was 47 degrees on the hottest day there. That was how so many perished so quickly in such heat. Those who were trying to make a quick escape often ran right into another area of firestorm.

There have been several things set up where people can donate to help rebuild financially. Etsy is one such place with the Oz Bushfire Appeal shop which is product fully donated to send funds to those affected. They have raised almost $10K USD so far and still going strong. Go to www.OzBushfireAppeal.etsy.com to see more and help out. There is something for everyone.

A Sure Sign of Spring

2009-02-20T19:33:00.001-08:00

Spring is sure to be just around the corner when the spring issue of Small Magazine is up and running. Check it out, lovely as ever.

Valentine's Day Already!

2009-02-14T11:01:00.001-08:00

A Treasury with a Masculine Touch.

2009-02-13T20:36:00.001-08:00

Somehow I managed to get a treasury and I decided to make it a manly one. I am really liking this selection. Have a look right here before it expires. Enjoy!

All About Love

2009-01-18T21:12:00.000-08:00

Seems like the day of all hearts is not too far off. I keep seeing hearts (and variations thereof) everywhere for some curious reason. On that note, I came across a lovely blog that celebrates all things romantically inclined. You must check out Loveology and see for yourself. (Caution, serious mush factor going on!!!)

MMMMMMM Bacon....

2009-01-14T08:46:00.000-08:00

This is a fun post for a very special person. (And by "special" that person will KNOW what I mean!)

Ever wanted to give someone a virtual side of bacon?

Well LOOK NO FURTHER! As you can see some cyber genius has come up with the application and it is easy as pork-pie to do to any URL. Just go to the site and check it out. You can see the Bacon'd Blog and get more of the details but it is super easy and well, who DOESN't want an order of crispy goodness with their websurfing anyways?

A Chilly Treasury.

2009-01-08T09:56:00.000-08:00

So things have been pretty busy around here as usual. The New Year is starting off with a bang and I only had a few minutes to (somehow)get a treasury done the other day. It's pretty snowy in these parts so that was about all I could think of when I worked this one out. Hope you enjoy it, click here to see it live but it won't last much longer as its a few days old already.

Happy New Year to All!

2008-12-31T10:43:00.000-08:00

Sending out some happy new year wishes for all the readers out there.

I Nabbed a Bad A** Treasury the Other Day

2008-12-17T10:27:00.000-08:00

So I have been a very busy bee and there have been a few changes recently that have kept me from posting here. Or at least kept me from knowing what to post here. The holiday season is such a crazy time of year and I tend to get a little overwhelmed. With the big birthday behind us I had a little time to snag an Etsy treasury the other day.

Gee, I don't know why it turned out so dark. Maybe the season is affecting me more than I thought?

Some Butterflies Just for Fun

2008-12-08T21:31:00.001-08:00

I bought a set of these lovely butterfly cut-outs a while ago and they arrived in good time. Mine are a more greenish and pinkish set in colour and I actually got two sets as part of a promo that the lovely Etsy seller had going on. Beach Cottage Studio has sold out of these now but you can see all of her other lovely goodies in her shop.

I really like the framed look for these so I think that is what I will do with some of them and perhaps some Xmas wrap embellishments for others. I'll have to keep you posted.

A Small Winter Issue

2008-11-27T20:12:00.000-08:00

The Winter '08 issue of Small Magazine is up and of course it doesn't disappoint.

Shop Shop til you Drop.

2008-11-23T10:25:00.000-08:00

I guess I am jumping the gun a little to get a head start on Cyber Monday tomorrow.
I have been busy trying to find something special to get for my daughter who is having a Birthday in a few weeks. Her B-Day is so close to Christmas it always seems as if it is almost eaten up by the excitement of the holiday season so this year I want to do something extra special for her.

I think I have it all worked out but seeing as I want it to be a big surprise I won't give away too many clues to the mystery here. I did settle on a few things from another vintage seller on Etsy.
The Eclectic Curio has a great selection of goodies and I picked out a few good reads that the lovely shop owner has agreed to gift wrap and address to my daughter. You can read more about the shop and such on the Eclectic Curio blog.

What Money?...I've Got Art

2008-11-20T21:30:00.000-08:00

My actual job has been keeping me quite busy despite the fact that I feel as if I am never ahead after all is said and done.

I suppose if I were ever that desperate I could get creative and try what this fellow did.

For the record, I liked the seven legged version myself.

Oh Balls! 40 Days to GO!

2008-11-15T13:19:00.001-08:00

Remember this post?
I have this idea to make some ornaments for my very neglected project in the feeble attempt to get ready for the holiday season in due time. When I checked back with the lovely and very industrious Jennifer's One Hundred Days blog I was reminded that there is now only 40 days left until the big day sooooooo
I HAD BETTER GET MY BUTT IN GEAR!

To that end I have ordered some lovely felted balls as pictured above so that I can make some cute danglies for our tree. I am going to embroider some white snowflakes onto each one and maybe add some jingle bells and ribbons. I looked on Etsy of course to find these felted balls from HandBEHG and would have loved some in green too. Unfortunately she has no green but I was happy to find her shop as many of the felters were located overseas. With only 40 days to go time is of the essence. I can't wait until they get here!

Lest We Forget

2008-11-11T10:05:00.000-08:00

Lest We Forget by Rascallion
They died for our freedom.

The Perfect Pet

2008-11-10T17:25:00.001-08:00

My kids are always bugging me to get a pet. A dog, a cat, a hedgehog, anything. They just want a little love bug to cuddle. Well I found the perfect pet for our household in these PermaPets from Noadi's Art. They are made of polymer clay and they are so realistic looking I had to look twice. Check out her Etsy shop or the Ecrater store for more info and to see the other cool things that on there. So cool! And the best part is you don't have to feed, walk or water them!

A Feast for the Eyes

2008-11-09T12:04:00.001-08:00

And then some. The lovely Cakespy commented on this blog while back and I have to admit to being drawn back to visit her delectable blog a few times. There are some fab pics with some yummy looking treats fit to eat along with tips and recipes as well. If you like a sweet treat to eat you should definitely stop by for a good read. As her tag line states, "seeking sweetness in everyday life (literally!)" is easy with Cakespy at the ready. You can even visit the shop to get some cake related merchandise. Sweet!!!
The treat above is an awesome substitute for the caloric kind; IT'S SOAP!!!
I could not believe my eyes when I saw these beauties. Awesome treats that don't end up on the hips via the lips, these are Dreamsicle Snickerdoodle Icecream Sandwich soapy treats for the tub. I bet they smell DELISH! Visit Anita's Crafty Creations on Etsy for a huge selection of yummy goods that will make your mouth water. (Don't drool on your keyboard!!!)

Rocked The Vote

2008-11-08T11:10:00.001-08:00

Yes You Did!!! Want to see more fab Obama inspired works from fellow Etsians?

The Obama Win has Inspired Me

2008-11-07T20:27:00.001-08:00

Yes, for a while there my faith in humanity was getting pretty weak. Being able to look forward to better days when President-Elect Obama moves to his new digs has allowed me to shelve my fleeting urge to move to an eco-island in Northern Europe. At least for a little while anyways.

Thinking Ahead

2008-11-06T21:56:00.000-08:00

Now that Hallowe'en is well behind us we can focus on the next sugar-coated excuse for a holiday. Most everyone I know is usually very busy from pretty much now right through until oh, about January 2nd. That's two months of crazed holiday madness.

I still try to keep the focus on handmade gifts and the "Less is More" mantra is always in place for me. Luckily, there are many helpful hideaways on the internet where we can all find some crafty goodness when we don't have the time to whip something up ourselves.

Inspire Handmade, Craftster, and BuyHandmade are just a few places to get going with a helping hand to handmade help this festive season. Really, there are so many options that there is little excuse to NOT give the gift of handmade goodies this year.

Not to mention the many venues where you can buy online direct from seasoned artisans. I think you know where this is going so I will leave you to it.......

100 Days to Christmas

2008-11-05T19:39:00.001-08:00

OK we are well into it with just over 50 days left to get ready for Christmas so get on over there and sign up. Looks like fun and I'll try to keep you posted. Who knows, I might even make some progress with this project.

woohoo!

2008-11-04T23:17:00.001-08:00

And as the man himself said, America, "This is your victory."

TO THE POLES!

2008-11-04T19:40:00.000-08:00

I really do hope everyone in is out voting today. I myself cannot wait to find out who will be the next prez of our fair neighborhood to the south. The race has been interesting to say the least.

(About the title, yes, I am aware that the word is actually POLLS! lol!)

May the best person win. And I DO mean that.

Is this just TOO CUTE?

2008-11-03T21:44:00.000-08:00

My photos of my products in my Etsy shops usually resemble the dog's breakfast even on a good day. Somehow this past week I ended up with this very successful pic of my little fawn and I had to share it with all my readers here. Goodness knows it will pretty much go unseen over at the Etsy location seeing as their numbers and views are all messed up (again.)

For more, check out the EllaCinders vintage shop (ye olde etsy shoppe as it is more commonly know at my house.) Is there such a thing as too cute?

Can I just post :$18 Million per Second.

2008-11-02T09:57:00.000-08:00

YES, you read it right. ExxonMobil has posted an ENORMOUS profit in the last quarter. They make clear profits of roughly EIGHTEEN MILLION DOLLARS every second.

Normally, I would have no problem with a legit company making such a hefty profit but according to this article (thanks again Treehugger) ExxonMobil has yet to make good on any reparation costs associated with the colossal blunder we all know as the Exxon-Valdez oil tanker spill of March 24, 1989. All you have to do is Google some and there is a huge amount of info available on the subject.

The company, assuming it will actually buck up for the $500 M in reparation payments in the first place, now owes about another $500 Million in interest payments on the original judgment value for the past 12 years since the judgment was delivered back in 1996. In June this year the company was let off the hook for the original reparation sum of $2.5 Billion (yes that is a B!) by the Supreme Court. The company was deemed "worse than negligent but less than malicious" by the judge. Whatever that means.

Folks, $500 Million adds up to about 3 days worth of profits for ExxonMobil.
THREE DAYS of profits would pay off their debt to society that has been looming for how long now? It's been almost two decades since the oil spill. That is just disgusting. Corporate greed at it's finest.

I for one will NOT be going anywhere near any filling station that has that stain of a name on the sign out front. Not even to use the bathroom. (Photo from Wikipedia)

NaNoMoBloPo or something....And World Vegan Day

2008-11-01T13:32:00.000-07:00

So it is National Month of Blog Posting day (or NaMoBloPo for short) and the start of (hopefully) a month of blogging. One post every day for thirty days. I think I can do it but only time will tell.

My first post this month also happens to be on World Vegan Day so I have something interesting to blog on about. I was tipped off to World Vegan Day with this great Treehugger post about the subject and a great smelling cosmetics company that has gone Vegan for the day. I also learned through the WV Day site that November just happens to also be World Vegan Month so I will have lots to write about for the month of posts.

I am going to try out some Vegan recipes also and post them here. Since I am certainly no whiz in the kitchen I will be doing some research on how to go about this in the most simplistic way possible. Once upon a time I was a vegetarian and I'll have to dig out those old recipe books I have hidden away somewhere. I think I could manage a vegetarian day each week since we don't really even eat that much meat around this house anyhow.

2008-10-31T20:22:00.001-07:00

MuahHAHAHAHAHAHAAH

OOOOH, Scary!

2008-10-26T12:48:00.001-07:00

This is what happens when you use the "Fireworks" setting to take pictures in daylight. OOOPS! Oh well, kind of a ghostly effect so yes I guess it is somewhat scary. You can just make out my daughter's silhouette. Really, her costume is super scary! I think most folks would not recognize her if she walked by, with the wig and make-up she looks like a different person.

Ballots Anyone?...

2008-10-14T22:40:00.000-07:00

We went polling today up here in Canada. I always take my kids with me to vote and try to explain the reason why voting is so important. They probably still don't quite get it but it's a start. The whole concept of politics and government is hard to grasp I know and especially at such a young age. I just want to keep them exposed to what I do because it is the beginnings of a dialog about the big picture.

I also tried to explain a bit about democracy and how I feel that it is truly is our civic duty to exercise our freedom to vote. How many millions(or even billions?) of people in this world have no voice on their place in the world? Even if I feel that my one little check mark does not make much of a difference it is still important just to be part of the process.

Alas, I guess my youngest doesn't get it at all. He thinks that voting is some kind of fun game because somebody "wins". Haha, if only it were just that simple!

Happy Thanksgiving, EH?

2008-10-13T10:48:00.000-07:00

Yum Yum Yum! What better treat to go with turkey than a pumpkin pie! If you want a great recipe for this pumpkin pie, click the pic to go to the aptly named Canadian Winter Magazine. Happy Thanksgiving to my fellow Canucks out there.

Fall Has Arrived

2008-10-09T16:41:00.000-07:00

Photo courtesy of PDPhoto.org.
Yes, Fall is really here. It was below zero already this morning and yes, if I had any pumpkins in my yard they would definitely have frost on them. It is my favorite time of year still and I am looking forward to the fun stuff coming up. YAY!!!

Have any fun things to share?

An AWOL Giveaway HOT TIP!

2008-10-06T18:42:00.000-07:00

So I know it has been a while since I posted anything and I just had to say I AM STILL ALIVE! I have just been extra busy this fall. Lots of things to come so I will be back on the blog-wagon in a few days if all goes as planned.

In the meantime, I give you a fabulous giveaway hot tip from Designs by Vanessa featuring some gorgeous ear-candy from Kimberly Monaco Designs.

I would be ecstatic if I won these lovelies but go check it out for yourself and enter the giveaway. It is open to everyone, everywhere but you know what they say, you can't win if you don't play!

Talk Like a Pirate me Hearties

2008-09-18T22:22:00.001-07:00

Blimey! With all the excitement around here I totally forgot about Talk Like a Pirate Day! AARRRGH!

These lovely tattoo inspired embroidery items are from Sublime Stitching ® and blow me down!!! The pattern is only $3.50!

If I were any better at knitting I would be trying out this tricorn felted hat over at Knit Like A Pirate. Alas, me scurvy dogs, me knittin' skills be about as good as me piratical yabberin'!

Busy September

2008-09-18T22:22:00.000-07:00

What a crazy two weeks!

I think this September is going down as the busiest and most insane September on record for me. It rains and it pours, despite the beautiful autumn weather we are having.

I focused on getting a job which I happily accomplished albeit temporarily and that has been great but with it comes the art of balancing it all. It seems that when I need to focus on an area there are areas that will consequently take a hit with the attention to detail. My first area of less than stellar attention always ends up being the housework. I know this annoys some folks to no end (you know who you are!!!) but for me it is just a fact of life.

If there is a crumb on the floor for an extended amount of time, I just don't worry about it because as far as I know nobody has ever died from a less than sparkling floor. We aren't eating on it after all. The fruit fly epidemic I have however might be a different story.

Aww, Poor Robin

2008-09-09T19:58:00.000-07:00

I found a great Etsy shop via Gilbea's Fashion & Handmade who uses Project Wonderful ads.
Poor Robin revolves around a collection of buttons that are being remade into some unique and lovely items. Take a look for yourself and I think you will be pleasantly surprised with the selection. The colours are so vibrant and fun they will make anyone smile in amusement.

Feel Good Friday Post

2008-09-05T09:42:00.000-07:00

So here I am busy doing the job search thing and trying to get something together for my kids birthday. It's been a whurlwind of a week with school starting up and the craziness that goes with that ritual. Some feel-good Friday posting is a necessary ticket for me today so here is what I found via Tea & Honey Bread. Ever wonder who you are?

You Are Big Bird

Talented, smart, and friendly... you're also one of the sanest people around.

You are usually feeling: Happy. From riding a unicycle to writing poetry, you have plenty of hobbies to keep you busy.

You are famous for: Being a friend to everyone. Even the grumpiest person gets along with you.

How you life your life: Joyfully. "Super. Duper. Flooper."

The Sesame Street Personality Quiz

Farewell to Summer

2008-09-03T11:36:00.000-07:00

Mostly Wordless (it's Wednesday!)

I Knew This Day Would Come

2008-09-02T08:46:00.001-07:00

Do You Hear that? No? Me neither! Silence! I guess you can't hear me jumping for joy either.
My kids (yep, both of them!) are off to school. For the whole day. Everyday.

Seriously, I know I should be all sentimental and teary because my youngest is finally off to grade one this year so he's in school all day. Finally. I guess I am kind of over it seeing as he went to school all day every other day in kindy last year. Now I am just glad to get back into the swing of things after nearly eight years at home. Yep, I'm getting a job. I'm not too picky about it either, at this point I'll consider anything. Anything that involves conversation with other adults during the day. Adults that I am not related to that is. The only other concrete stipulation is that it comes with a paycheck. Not too much to ask, right?

I don't usually dish about my personal life for various reasons but this blog has been a real life-saver for me. As a singleton WHAM Psilology has helped me ~~stay sane and~~ chronicle my goings on for the past 2.5 years. I can look back and see my progress with both my writing skills, (cringing at my first few posts!) my personal/business growth and my family life in general. It's kind of a "what have I been doing" list of the mundane for me but hopefully I have helped a few others out along the way. Mostly though it has benefited my sanity which has been a big motivating factor in keeping this thing going because, you know, kids can't have a crazy Mommy.

The bonus of course has been all the other friendly bloggers that I have met virtually in the process. I am so appreciative of all the readers who come here and especially the comments. You have made it all the more worthwhile. A big Thank You goes out and stay tuned, there is still more to come.

Labour Day! You KNOW what That Means!

2008-09-01T23:23:00.000-07:00

Back to school roundup of stuff! Here are some awesome things you might want to look into if you haven' t already. First, via Apartment Therapy's kid stuff blog, OhDeeDoh, we have some marvelous monsters to take you to lunch in style. Click the pic to go right to the Etsy shop that makes these lovelies.

Also, MissMalaprop has brought my attention to these green back to school kits that the Green Office has to offer.
It makes school supply shopping a one stop deal for anyone from kindy to college and it's the eco-alternative so it gets high marks. Miss Malaprop also has some other great posts about baggage for school, the good kind of course!

IndieFixx has a Back to School Guide that is worth a look for anyone who is looking to hit the books in the near future as well. Apples and mushrooms and owls, OH MY! These themes are going strong still this fall season in accessories so stock up and have a fun and safe adventure this week everyone.

Almost Wordless Wednesday - Yearbook Yourself!

2008-08-27T11:31:00.000-07:00

Click on the pick to go to the Yearbook Yourself site and give it a go!

I found a fun site via Made By Girl a little while ago. (Of course Jennifer's pics still manage to look stunning!) Be prepared for a good laugh if you try it yourself. This is me circa 1972 (but not really because I was only 1 and had no hair at all!)

Break-Down; the Mega Master List of Online Sales Venues if You Seek an Etsy Alternative.

2008-08-25T09:49:00.000-07:00

I decided that I need to start tackling the massive mega-list based on each group of 5 venues as this will keep it more organized for me in the long run. The aim as usual is to offer up a comprehensive view of options for those seeking an Etsy alternative.

ArtFlock is an online creative community where you can buy and sell original art and craft. The break down of the basics is as follows;

We do not charge listing fees
We charge just 3.5% commission on sales you promoted and 15% on sales through our exclusive partnerships with sites like MyDeco.com
You are paid direct by the buyer, you ship direct to the buyer
Use our hassle free checkout to track progress on sales and communicate with your latest customer and fan!
Upload all of your work, not just what's for sale, it's a great way of attracting commissions!

An interesting feature of the site is that you can import an existing blog and upload it right to your Artflock blog which I have not yet seen anywhere else. I like that there is a "Handpicked" selection on the front page also and it seems the site is solely for the made by hand crowd. I like the layout which is pretty basic but then that means there are a few less features than what I am accustomed to with Etsy.

ArtsEfest The tag line is "Amazingly Creative". They have an excellent breakdown of their benefits right here. Interesting to note is that they are dubbed an online "craft show" and sellers are referred to as "Exhibitors". They boast over half a million page views per month with only around 500 exhibitors. (Hopefully this means there are more buyers than sellers unlike another online craft venue I know of.)

Their pricing structure is quite complex and offers many different options which you can see here but the cost varies from $2 to $18 per month as far as I can tell, depending on what options you need. The style of the layout is a little more complex and there are some interesting options so it is something to check out further on your own to see if ArtsEfest is for you.

Blujay is "your 100% free online classified marketplace."

It looks very much like a free version of Ebay and they pretty much say so right on their About page. Sometimes you can't beat free but I urge you to take a look at the Terms of Service in more detail and verify this for yourselves if you go with BluJay. Let me know what you think too! From my perusing I have to say it looks pretty good for a free site as it isn't plastered with affiliate advertising so that is refreshing. In terms of marketing you are pretty much on your own it seems but that is nothing new though is it?

Bouf "The global marketplace for designers, artists and extraordinary brands."

Image credit: "Wine Card" by We Are Family over at Bouf.com.

This site has a really nice aesthetic that I am very impressed with. Seeing as design is my background I appreciate the effort Bouf has made to put together a nice clean layout that shows off the products well. The site is a select offering, meaning it is essentially juried as they work with designers, artists and brands "to offer a mouth-watering selection of unique products that help our customers stand out from the crowd".

Check out their requirements to exclusivity right here.
Membership as a buyer is free but selling break down is as follows;

Full Membership -£144/year +15% commission on sold items
Intermediate Membership -£96/year +15% commission on sold items
Items that don't sell - free
Listing an item - free
Credit Card payment processing by Paypal - 2.5% +£.20
Earnings paid via Paypal - free
Earnings paid via Bank Transfer -£5.00 (only for to UK sellers)
Monthly activity summary - free

They offer advertising and feature options for additional fees as well. It has been announced on their blog that they are launching a sister site called Joolia which will focus on jewellery and fashion accessories so this will be interesting to watch.

BigCartel - I love Big Cartel so much that I will be doing a separate post exclusively dedicated to my favourite online sales solution for independent entrepreneurs. Stay tuned!

Good (Blog) Housekeeping

2008-08-22T10:19:00.000-07:00

I have recently been working on the blogging thing from behind the scenes, from research about post ideas to the technical side of things. Results from this will be up within the next week or so as I am implementing a new layout.

In the meantime I want to share some of the very helpful resources I have come across.
Yes, more geek tools for those who want to know.

In my research I found a blog which has very helpful information on almost all aspects of blogging, from some of the technical stuff to the daily grind of it all. The Written Word has definitely been an eye opener on several levels. I think part of what drew me to it was the writing style. Angela Swanlund has an easily understood way of getting the point across, even when the topic is technical. If there is "tech-speak" it is usually explained in simple terms for those of us who don't find techno terminology our fist language. I encourage anyone who might want to take blog writing to a higher level to take a look.

I also came across this very informative site somehow and this article about site maps was a big help. I submitted my site map to Google after using one of the site-map generators I was referred to. Hopefully my blog will get more traffic out of this but only time will tell.

Small Fall

2008-08-21T18:00:00.001-07:00

Wow, you can almost hear an echo in here it's been so long since I last posted.

Summer days are getting shorter alright and the morning air is already a little bit crisp. A sure sign of autumn being right around the corner though is what came in my inbox today. My fave online magazine is out for Fall!

As usual it is fabulous. They have made yet another stellar issue for the season.

Click on the photo to go to the site and enjoy!

Some Comparisons of Online Sales Venues

2008-08-11T12:41:00.000-07:00

In reference to my previous posts about alternates to Etsy, I have started doing some comparison shopping of online venues.

One of the first things I look at when trying to assess an online sales venue is the fee structure. That is a bottom line item for me as I have to calculate how much is going out on each listed item to determine the actual profit margin that a product will yield. Seems like a no-brainer, I know but you would be surprised at what I have found at some venues. Take the following example; Ruby Lane boasts 10 years in operation but at the current fee structure, I definitely raised an eyebrow.

Ruby Lane
(from the site itself, find this info here)

Set up fee: $75 (refunded if your shop is not approved)

No Comission fee

Listing Fee = 30 cents per item

Monthly maintenance fee: The first 150 items is 30 cents for each item, and then each item over 150 is 20 cents per item.

Minimum charge of 50 items, or $15 per month.Calculated and charged on the 1st of every month

Advertising = $20 (monthly for all shops)

For example, after the one-time $75 setup fee has been paid, and the listing fees for stock added, for a shop with up to 50 items, the minimum monthly cost of maintaining a shop on Ruby Lane is $15 for the maintenance fee and $20 for advertising, or $35. (there are incentives for referrals)

So, yeah, that is a LOT of green even for my taste. A little too much. I could never turn a profit based on this fee structure, so my current sales venues, Big Cartel (with my self hosted website) and Etsy are looking pretty fine indeed.

Felt; like something different.
Upon looking at a few newer venues, there was a glint of hope;
Felt is a NZ site, started in 2007 that allows only handmade goods. Their terms of use look very good. I also like their tag line;

The fee structure is simple and looks like the costs will work into my profit margins nicely.
Each listing costs a flat fee of 50 cents, and lasts for one year. The fee is automatically deducted from your account when you submit your listing. When your item sells, the 5% success fee is also deducted automatically from your account. If your item hasn’t sold after a year, the listing will expire and you ‘ll need to renew it.
You can see the deets here;
Another nice way to go is the prepay system; you load your account up (no credit card required? Hope so!) and then when your funds get low your get a notification.

WinkElf also looks promising.

They have a basic fee program or an all inclusive monthly fee program of $5.00. That looks like the best way to go as we all know how quickly fees can add up in a month. The info is all here, though the presentation is a little convoluted. I think it is supposed to be a table but on my screen it doesn't quite look that way so it's a tad confusing.
Basic fee program is as follows:

Free Listings
Bold Title - $0.05
Picture Slideshow - $0.15
Category Feature - $0.10
Main Page Feature - $0.25

2.5% of Final Selling Price (Minimum Selling Fee - $0.25)

Homepage feature listing 25¢(per day?) for up to 30 days

This is a start. I am developing a chart for easier comparison since it's starting to get more complex with each indepth look. This might take a while so you'll have to check back often, or subscribe to my feed.

A Bag From Danny Seo!

2008-08-09T10:00:00.000-07:00

Look what I won! Isn't it uber-eco cool?
I commented on Daily Danny about the Method brand of eco-products and I was so happy to see a comment on my post telling me that I had won this super eco-tote. I don't know what makes me more excited, the winning or the thought that someone famous might have actually visited my blog and read it! Teehee, I am all giddy about the whole thing.

Danny writes a great blog full of eco tips and awesome ideas about green decorating. It has some super DIY project posts so go check it out. Personally, I have been ~~stalking~~ reading his blog for quite a while and what a bonus to actually win something from him. I can't wait! Thanks Danny!

(Image credit; shamelessly lifted right from Daily Danny!)

YES, I am a Geek, Thank You...

2008-08-06T11:15:00.000-07:00

Totally inspired by the Geek King, McLuvin himself of Superbad.

Some Very Basic Blogging Tips for Newbies

2008-08-04T09:38:00.001-07:00

Once in a while I see artsy/crafty type blogs (that are usually newer) which have some interesting posting strategies. Links with straight HTML, pics that wander off the page area, dead links and other little things that are minor but also act as a blaring banner of "I am new at this blogging thing!!!" to visitors.

Being an amateur blogger myself I know how hard it is to navigate your way around all the issues that come up with this medium in the early stages. It is easy to get discouraged if you feel you don't have the necessary tools to give your best post presentation.

If you feel this might apply to you, DON'T despair! There are a few very minor things you can do to get a better experience as a newbie.

Here are some basics: (click photo for more detail)

#1 - Use the tools at hand - Write your post in "Compose" mode first and use the necessary tools; I will write about HTML mode in another post as it is also very powerful.

# 2 - Spellcheck - it's there for a reason!
#3 - When linking in a post, highlight the text you want to link and hit the "Add Link" button but be sure to insert the correct code
#4 - Use the extra "bling" for text sparingly and never use UPPER case letters unless there is a VERY good reason (this is considered yelling at the reader in "netiquette") Colours and fancy fonts are fun but it tends to get messy if you go too crazy
#5 - The eraser can be used to edit the formatting you went nuts with (#4)
#6 - Ooooooh - pretty pictures! Net surfers tend to skim articles and a good pic or graphic is always a nice way to add some punch to a post
#7 - Make use of labels which categorize your posts for easy navigation
#8 - Preview your post before you publish so you can get an idea of what it will look like and click on your text links to make sure they are working

There you have it. *** Obviously this is a list intended for Blogger/Blogspot users as per my handy graphic. Blogger is by far the easiest platform and the first choice for newer bloggers with less technical knowhow. If you have any other tips or questions please do share in the comments.

Has this post been helpful to anyone reading? Let me know!

The Massive List of Etsy Alternatives

2008-08-01T12:20:00.001-07:00

Instead of having the two (or more!) posts with alternatives to Etsy sales venues, I have amalgamated them into one major, massive mega-list here. If you are looking for somewhere else to sell that is NOT Etsy for whatever reason, this is the place to look. I will add more periodically and those will go to the bottom of the list.

For now, it is in alphabetical order, in groups of five.

ArtFlock
ArtsEfest
Blujay
Bouf
BigCartel

BuyItSellIt
Canduru
Craftfinder
CraftMall
Creative Cafe

CraftersBuzz
CutNpaste *Sells for you on consignment basis.
Dawanda
Ecrater
Elsewares

Erayo
Funky Finds - The Shops
Felt
Folksy
GoZabo

Guild
HandmadeCatalog
HomegrownMarket
iCraft
Lov.li

Lunacraft
Madeit
MintD
My Art Plot
My Store

NotonTheHighStreet
Overstock Auctions
PinkDoodle
Poppytalk Handmade Market
RubyLane

SilkFair
Shopify
SmashingDarling
Strictly Handmade - Low yearly fee SuperMarket

Thumbtack Press
Tuggle
UShops
Veganica
Wagglepop

WinkElf - "Handmade by Thems-Elves"
WholesaleCrafts
World Wide Crafters - "Changing the way
YabbleBabble
Yessy

Yinia
YouCraft.org

If this is a helpful list and you want to see more when there are updates, please subscribe. Comments are encouraged! If you have other details to add, feel free.

Seven more Online Sales Venues that are NOT Etsy

2008-07-30T11:51:00.001-07:00

I've dug up a few more online venues for selling wares that are similar but different from Etsy. I am always on the lookout for more of these online marketplace opportunities. Having options when selling independently is always "a good thing" as Martha would say.

This brings the total to over 50 online shopping options for those seeking an alternative to Etsy.
The first two lists can be seen here and here. Below are the latest additions, some of which you might be familiar with so speak up with any feedback please.

Funky Finds - The Shops
UShops
Felt
Folksy
ArtFlock
Yinia
Poppytalk Handmade Market

More Lovely Ceramics

2008-07-29T12:11:00.000-07:00

Some more appreciation for the ceramic arts. The theme this time is black and white. Such a classic theme with so many new possibilities. This Etsy mini is from my favourites. What are some of your faves?

This Week's Geektool

2008-07-28T13:23:00.000-07:00

I found this rad tool that lets you put a nice ribbon on the top corner of your blog. Check it out! Is that not super cool or what? Click on it to see where it takes you, I dare you.

If you want to get one of your own just check out the Quick Ribbon site where I got mine at. You can customize it to your personal taste. I made a pretty pink one for the Ella Cinders blog that takes you to the Ella Cinders Etsy shop. Too Cool!

R.I.P. Randy Pausch

2008-07-25T12:40:00.000-07:00

Randy Pausch, the Carnegie Mellon University computer scientist whose "Last Lecture" about facing terminal cancer became an Internet sensation and a best-selling book, has died today at age 47.

Pausch reminded us to have fun everyday, so you can watch the famed lecture here if you promise to go out and have some fun afterward.

Lots of Fun in the Sun

2008-07-21T16:13:00.000-07:00

The water at the lake is very high this year because of all the spring rains we had. You can see this little tree is in deeper than usual here.

This is one of the many natural finds I get as gifts when we go to the beach. Oh the joys! This one did not make it to the car thank goodness.

Fast Friday

2008-07-18T13:47:00.000-07:00

This is just a quick post as it is a busy day. I have come across a great site that is about to launch officially and there are some fab giveaways going on in celebration of the event. So far it is looking like MomDot is a very fun virtual place to be. Check it out and join the fun!

There are lots of ways to enter to win so get to it!

Twittering at 4 AM is Annoying.

2008-07-17T10:21:00.000-07:00

Oh my fine feathered friends. How I love your chirps, your tweats, your cheep-cheeps and your twitters. Even your tuit-tuits are a lovely sound to hear. I am so lucky to be close to nature and hear your familiar noises that brighten my day.

Notice that I say DAY because I do not mean NIGHT. As in 3:30 in the morning! How can all the flying forest critters be wide awake and twittering like it was midday when it is not even showing a hint of day break yet?

I am completely baffled in my sleep deprived state as to how the birds know when to wake the world with all of the chirping going on around here. Hooty, the resident owl has not even retired yet when the birds start up with their racket. I just don't get it. Maybe they don't get it either and there is more to this global warming thing than meets the eye. Could it be the birds are completely confused and have their internal clocks all upside down? Or have they always been this busy in the wee hours and I just never noticed.

Ideas for a Staycation

2008-07-15T10:02:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we were at the beach and a tourist asked me what we do as a family for fun around here. That really got me thinking- what DO we DO all summer long?

Because we live in a town that is considered a "vacation destination" the thought of going somewhere else is somewhat of an afterthought. Why would we go anywhere else when we live in a summer paradise? (Especially with the ever-rising prices at the gas pump.) A staycation is standard around these parts.

I told the man who was enjoying the beach with his own young family that really we spend most of our time at the shore or local water parks. The kids never seem to get bored of that. We spend about 4 or 5 days a week on the water, weather permitting. If you are looking to do something else there are the typical vacation theme spots like the mini golf centre, bowling, camping etcetera.

For those days that we don't do the beach thing, there are many other ways that we pass the time. We don't have cable so watching TV is relegated to the odd video rented from the store but we don't really have lots of time for the tube to be honest.

Here are a few of the things we do to keep busy:
Paper crafts - making cards, recycled paper projects, collage and stamps.
Library visits - always a whole new world every time.
The local ECO centre offers lots of exploration.
Hiking - trails are abundant around here'
Bike riding - long leisurely rides on our mostly bike friendly roads.
Other crafts; sewing projects, drawing, soap carving (a favorite!) to name a few.
Practical skills like reading and writing, knitting etc.
Baking! A favorite.
Gardening fun.
Puzzles and board games.

When we are really desperate, there are the old stand-by's in the computer; the kids love their Webkinz site and keep their pets well fed and cared for. (Even though I think that Webkinz were invented by the WOEG - World Order of Evil Geniuses - to get kids virtually hooked on consumerism at an early age.)
Other fun resources we like:
The Crafty Crow
Enchanted Learning
Starfall
Creative Kids at Home
Crazy4Crafts

So this should keep you all busy if there is a lull in the activity around your place this summer.
If you have any other ideas, please share them in the commments.

Reminder to Etsians; Treasury West is Still in Beta

2008-07-12T11:14:00.001-07:00

Here you see Vicki Diane Designs' second attempt at her Treasury hosted in Treasury West.
The original mysteriously vanished in to cyberspace and is no more. Not even the comments remained. RIP original. You are missed.

Vicki swiftly made lemonade out of her lemons though as she filled a new Treasury with items from people who commented on her dilemma. (So sweet, thanks Vicki!)

It seems we needed a reminder that Treasury West is still in Beta and subject to random fits of destruction like this so take note fellow Etsians; Use Treasury West at your own risk. Apparently this happened to a large number of the Treasuries at some point this morning. Unfortunate.